The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of lamivudine alone versus lamivudine plus alpha-interferon for treatment of chronic active hepatitis B, anti-HBe positive. In all, 59 patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: A) 21 patients received lamivudine at 100 mg/daily orally for 52 weeks; B) 20 patients received lamivudine at 100 mg/die plus alpha-interferon at 6 MU subcutaneously three times weekly for 52 weeks; C) 18 patients received the same combination therapy for 40 weeks after pre-treatment with lamivudine for 12 weeks. The complete sustained response in the three groups was 33.3% vs 35.0% vs 33.3%, respectively. Our study demonstrates that in anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis B a 12-month course of lamivudine plus alpha-interferon combination therapy is as beneficial as lamivudine monotherapy. Moreover, the combination therapy for 40 weeks after pre-treatment with lamivudine for 12 weeks did not increase the sustained response.
The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of lamivudine alone versus lamivudine plus alpha-interferon for treatment of chronic active hepatitis B, anti-HBe positive. In all, 59 patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: A) 21 patients received lamivudine at 100 mg/daily orally for 52 weeks; B) 20 patients received lamivudine at 100 mg/die plus alpha-interferon at 6 MU subcutaneously three times weekly for 52 weeks; C) 18 patients received the same combination therapy for 40 weeks after pre-treatment with lamivudine for 12 weeks. The complete sustained response in the three groups was 33.3% vs 35.0% vs 33.3%, respectively. Our study demonstrates that in anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis B a 12-month course of lamivudine plus alpha-interferon combination therapy is as beneficial as lamivudine monotherapy. Moreover, the combination therapy for 40 weeks after pre-treatment with lamivudine for 12 weeks did not increase the sustained response.